The Proceedings Podcast

China will study the U.S. military campaign against Iran intently, but there are also opportunities for the Pentagon.

Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Keith Blevins, winner of the first and third prizes in our 2026 Coast Guard Essay Contest, talks about Mare Island Shipyard, National Security Cutters, and the Navy’s Future Frigate Program.

On September 11, 2001, as smoke rose from the Pentagon, U.S. Marine Corps Major Daniel P. Creighton and the Marines of HMX-1 were called into action. Twenty-five years later, Creighton, now a retired lieutenant colonel, shares his firsthand account of flying a CH-53E Super Stallion into the Washington airspace with Emily Abdow, host of the Naval History podcast. He also reflects on HMX-1’s extraordinary response that day, including the Marine One mission that returned President George W. Bush safely to the White House. In this special 25th-anniversary conversation, the U.S. Naval Institute remembers those lost on 9/11 and preserves the stories of the Marines who answered the call during one of the darkest days in American history.

Go behind the scenes of Mayday with writer-director-producer duo John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein. They join Naval History podcast host Emily Abdow to discuss the Cold War history behind the film, the inspiration for its story, and how they transformed one of history’s most dangerous eras into a Hollywood adventure comedy. Mayday is now streaming on Apple TV.

Host Bill Hamblet is joined by the Air Boss—Vice Admiral Doug Verissimo, Commander, Naval Air Forces and Commander, Naval Air Forces Pacific. As the U.S. Navy’s top aviator, Verissimo is in charge of keeping the Navy’s carriers and aircraft combat ready. Join us as they discuss maintenance challenges at a time of unprecedented demand. #Tailhook26 #Hook26 #NavalAviation

Host Emily Abdow talks with Will Sofrin about the history of Coast Guard cutter Eagle—from her origins as a Nazi training ship to her second life as America's tall ship, including diplomatic missions, milestone anniversaries, and visits from celebrities.

As the conflict stretches into its sixth month, Vice Admiral John Miller, U.S. Navy (Ret.), joins us to assess reopening the Strait of Hormuz, impacts on global maritime security, and how the conflict should end.

Host Emily Abdow sits down with Capt. Kristopher Ensley, commanding officer of USCGC Eagle (WIX-327), and Cadet First Class Finley Rauscher to explore the Eagle's remarkable history, the timeless value of sail training, and the unforgettable experience of participating in SAIL250 events up and down the East Coast. Discover how a ship built nearly a century ago continues to prepare the Coast Guard's future leaders while serving as one of America's most recognizable maritime ambassadors.

Bill Hamblet, Sam LaGrone, and Brian O’Rourke talk about the Navy’s budget, shipbuilding, Operation Epic Fury, and recruiting and retention.

Host Bill Hamblet interviews John Cordle about the Navy's new shaving policy and its potential impact on sailors affected by pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB). They discuss the medical condition, readiness, retention, leadership, and whether changes to grooming standards could unintentionally affect recruiting, careers, and the fleet's overall effectiveness.

Host Bill Hamblet sits down with Captain Robert Niewoehner, U.S. Navy (Retired), and Jefferson D. Grubb, head of the Operations Research Division at the Naval Safety Command, to examine lessons from recent F-35 mishaps, the evolution of naval aviation safety, and how institutional learning can help build a safer, stronger fleet.

Host Bill Hamblet talks with the Honorable Ben Kohlmann, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, about the future of the fleet.

During the American Revolution, privateers prowled the Atlantic in search of British prizes—serving the Patriot cause while generating enormous profits for their investors. This episode explores the story of the privateer Oliver Cromwell, Captain Joseph Lee, and the high-risk business of Revolutionary War privateering. Was it a fight for independence, a business opportunity, or both?

Host Emily Abdow talks with five-term congressman and award-winning author Robert Mrazek about the life and writings of Bill Evans, the youngest pilot of the ill-fated Torpedo Squadron 8 at the Battle of Midway.

A new voluntary program at the U.S. Naval Academy is using Stoic philosophy to help midshipmen build resilience, moral clarity, and inner discipline during Plebe Summer. In this episode, we discuss how ancient ideas from Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, Epictetus, and Vice Admiral James Stockdale are being applied to modern military leadership—and why spiritual readiness may need to evolve for an increasingly diverse and less religious force.

Host Emily Abdow talks to author Ed Offley about his article on the quest to award the unsung codebreaking hero of the Battle of Midway, Commander Joe Rochefort, the Distinguished Service Medal.

For generations, "A Message to Garcia" has been used to celebrate initiative and getting the job done. But Captain Jonathan Corbin, U.S. Marine Corps, argues that “figure it out” leadership can go too far. This episode explores why true decentralized command requires clear intent, useful context, and a culture where smart questions are encouraged—not punished.

Host Emily Abdow talks to Dr. Howard Fuller about his search for the wreckage of the Royal Navy ironclad HMS Captain and the historical circumstances that led to her capsizing in 1870.

In this episode, Lieutenant Mary Racicot, U.S. Navy, joins the Proceedings Podcast to discuss why joint wargames may be training commanders to misunderstand cyber operations. Too often, exercises either leave cyber out entirely or treat cyber effects as instant, reliable tools that can be “sprinkled on” a plan.

Host Bill Hamblet talks with Joshua Tallis, a research program director at the Center for Naval Analyses, about his article in the latest issue of Proceedings.